Finding Fun is Fighting Capitalism
A job is a job. In this exchange of commodities - your labour in exchange for paycheques - you are not obligated to give your loyalty to the employer.
My first day as an unemployed girlie was to administratively organize a 2,000-items childhood collection.
“I’m enjoying this organizational nightmare” was the way I described my day to my partner. And I was 100% serious.
This funemployment summer will be my last summer before starting a doctorate program at Carleton University. I don’t think I’ve had a “free” summer since 17 years old.
The next few months my main mission is to have fun every day.
Fun is inherently anti-capitalist.
Fun does not produce value or commodities.
Fun is enjoyment of the moment.
Since I started university, my free time were always occupied with part-time jobs, internships, and student/community organizing. Even after I entered into the workforce, I never only worked “one job”. I always had a side hustle and volunteer work after my shift.
As a recovering workaholic x perfectionist x people-pleasing immigrant Kong girl, the obsession to stretch time to maximize production is second nature.
Who has time for fun?
I don’t wonder why I burnout frequently. This isn’t only an individual failing, but a result of a capitalist society that values production above humanness. Free time is a privilege that is reserved for people whose income are not tied to their hours worked, with disposable income to spend on whatever impulses they have.
When it comes down to it, majority of our time are spent at work. Meanwhile evenings and weekends are dedicated to social reproduction labour - laundry, dishes, groceries - whatever necessary to keep us functional enough to go to work again on Monday.
This is not sustainable. It's designed to expend the worker to create value and commodities for the employer. Since I don’t have a 9-5 anymore, I am looking forward to dedicate to full-time fun.
Though my fun is probably someone else’s nightmare and that is a-okay!
Instead of spending the majority of my time creating commodities and value for an employer, I want to do things that hold no monetary value. The only requirement is: Will I have fun? Will community benefit from this work?
Growing my own food. Reading with a cup of honey tea. Playing video games. Skateboard through the neighbourhood. Spending time with like friends and like minded activists. Working on community projects together.
The limited period of fun-employment is about connecting with activities that recharge my heart and soul, open myself up to opportunities, and enjoy the summer by doing what I love.
Though I am not wealthy or free from financial responsibilities, I am privileged to not have to worry about living expenses for now. Financial planning for fun-employment... let's talk about that next time!
FUNemployment Diaries Part 2: writing and processing the end of my corporate girlie career, practicing refusal while surviving capitalism
